VAFF At-A-Glance 2022

Corsage

Friday, Nov. 4 | 4:30 PM

The Paramount Theater

Official Oscar® Selection—Austria

Empress Elisabeth of Austria is idolized for her beauty and renowned for inspiring fashion trends. But in 1877, ‘Sissi’ celebrates her 40th birthday and must fight to maintain her public image by lacing her corset tighter and tighter. Elizabeth’s role has been reduced and her zest for life and knowledge make her increasingly restless in Vienna. Traveling to England and Bavaria, she visits former lovers and old friends, seeking the excitement and purpose of her youth. With a future of strictly ceremonial duties laid out in front of her, Elisabeth rebels against the hyperbolized image of herself and comes up with a plan to protect her legacy.

Tickets: $12

Supported by Woodard Properties

OPENING NIGHT FILM

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Wednesday, Nov. 2 | 7:00 PM

The Paramount Theater

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the thrilling, star-studded standalone sequel to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out (2019). Set in the early days of the pandemic, the story brings Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to Greece, where tech billionaire Miles Bron has invited his wealthy and glamourous pals to a murder mystery party. When a guest turns up dead, Benoit is quickly on the case, but every socialite has a compelling motive, and nothing is at it seems on the surface. The dazzling cast is rounded out by Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr., and Janelle Monáe. Introduction by President Jim Ryan (UVA) and Jody Kielbasa (VAFF)

Tickets: $20

Presented by Bank of America

She Said

Friday, Nov. 4 | 8:00 PM

Culbreth Theatre

From Director Maria Schrader (Unorthodox) comes an ode to investigative journalism in one of the most well-reported scandals of the century. She Said follows New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor as they expose Harvey Weinstein’s years-long history of sexual misconduct. Through the collective input and power of journalism, the two women pursue survivors and witnesses whose courage and conviction led to his firing.

Tickets: $14

Presented by CVILLE Weekly

The Lost King

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 1:30 PM

The Paramount Theater

Archaeologists presumed the remains of King Richard III had been scattered over 500 years ago, but in 2012 the discovery of his remains underneath a parking lot in Leicester proved their presumptions wrong. Spearheading the search for King Richard III's remains was historian Philippa Langley, whose devotion and unrelenting research was met with skepticism by academia. Director Stephen Frears (Philomena, High Fidelity) captures the inspiring true story of a woman who refused to be ignored, taking on Britain's most established historians and forcing the legacy of one of the most controversial rulers in English history to be re-examined.

Tickets: $12

Devotion

Thursday, Nov. 3 | 7:30 PM

The Paramount Theater

BREAKTHROUGH STAR AWARD: JONATHAN MAJORS Set in the Korean War, Devotion captures the tale of the U.S. Navy’s first Black aviator, Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), and his dedicated wingman Tom Hudner. Despite being a decorated and first-rate pilot, Jesse cannot avoid the prejudice running rampant in a recently desegregated military. When Tom joins the unit, the two form an unbreakable bond—just in time to be thrust into combat for the first time. Featuring stunningly shot and choreographed aerial sequences, this captivating narrative recounts a story of an African-American trailblazer deserving of our respect and admiration. Discussion with actor Jonathan Majors, moderated by Tyler Coates (The Hollywood Reporter)

Tickets: $20

Presented by Truist

Jonathan Majors is best known for The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Loki, The Harder They Fall, Lovecraft Country, and Da 5 Bloods. Can next be seen in Creed III and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 9:00 PM

The Paramount Theater

Lady Chatterley, a wealthy young woman born into a life of privilege, realizes that her marriage to an upper-class former soldier has become loveless and vacant. As she grows more physically and emotionally frustrated with her husband, Chatterley falls into a passionate affair with Oliver Mellors, a man working on their English estate. Soon she discovers more intimacy than she thought possible and must weigh the costs of breaking tradition to start a new life with her lover. A reimagining of D. H. Lawrence's controversial 1928 novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover is a wildly sensual tale that tackles issues of women’s societal expectations, desires, and autonomy.

Tickets: $14

Living

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 3:15 PM

The Paramount Theater

The year is 1953. London is still rebuilding from World War II, and William, a veteran civil servant, is living a remarkably mundane life, when his world is changed in an instant by a devastating medical diagnosis. Determined to find adventure and fulfillment, William embarks on a journey where he encounters remarkable people and unearths new revelations. Directed by Oliver Hermanus and staring Bill Nighy, Aimee Lee Wood, Alex Sharp, and Tom Burke, Living is a powerful reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film Ikiru that asks audiences to consider what it truly means to live.

Tickets: $12

Presented by The Daily Progress

Supported by UVA Gamma Knife Center

CLOSING NIGHT FILM Empire of Light

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 7:00 PM

The Paramount Theater Academy Award®-winning Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) presents a love letter to the magic of cinema with the aid of master cinematographer Roger Deakins (No Country for Old Men) and a top-notch cast headlined by Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth. Hilary works the front of house for a movie theater in 1981. Each day she manages the repetitive routine of opening the cinema, overseeing concession, and fielding her manager’s uncomfortable requests for illicit favors. When Stephen joins the theater’s staff, the two form a quick and unusual connection.

Tickets: $20

Presented by AV Company

Karaoke

With actor Sasson Gabay

Thursday, Nov. 3 | 8:30 PM | Violet Crown 5

A comedy about a married middle-class suburban couple in their 60s who are drawn to their new neighbor, a charismatic bachelor who has karaoke evenings at his apartment. Discussion with actor Sasson Gabay and director Moshe Rosenthal, moderated by Harry Chotiner (VAFF) Tickets: $14

Supported by WTJU 91.1 FM

Sasson Gabay: Internationally acclaimed Israeli actor; recent winner of Ophir Award (Israeli Academy Award) as Best Actor for Karaoke; known for acclaimed film The Band’s Visit, and the Netflix series Shtisel

Stay Awake

Special Guests: Chrissy Metz, Wyatt Oleff, and Governor Gerald L. Baliles Founder’s Award: Jamie Sisley

Friday, Nov. 4 | 8:00 PM | The Paramount Theater

Two brothers navigate teenage life while dealing with their mother's prescription drug addiction. Discussion with director Jamie Sisley, actor Chrissy Metz, and actor Wyatt Oleff, moderated by Brian Truitt (USA Today) Tickets: $20

Presented by UVA Health

Chrissy Metz: Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated star of NBC’s This is Us (Kate Pearson).

My Father’s Dragon

Jamie Sisley: Emmy Awardwinning filmmaker (Farewell Ferris Wheel)

Screenwriting Achievement Award: Meg LeFauve

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 10:00 AM | The Paramount Theater

FAMILY CENTERPEICE FILM An animated fable based on the beloved children’s book. Discussion with director Nora Twomey, producer Julie Lynn, and screenwriter Meg LeFauve, moderated by Carlos Aguilar (LA Times) Tickets: $10, $5 Children

Presented by UVA Arts: supported by the Office of the Provost & the Vice Provost for the Arts and Supported by Nest Realty

Meg LeFauve: Oscar-nominated writer of Pixar’s Inside Out, and Golden-Globe nominated writer of Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur

Women Talking

Tribute to Judith Ivey

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 5:00 PM | The Paramount Theater

CENTERPIECE FILM One evening, eight Mennonite women climb into a hay loft to conduct a secret meeting. For the past two years, each of these women, and more than a hundred other girls in their colony, have been repeatedly drugged, raped, and told that demons are coming to punish them for their sins. Discussion with actor Judith Ivey, moderated by Jenny Wales (UVA) Tickets: $20 Presented by The Paramount Theater

Judith Ivey: Two-time Tony Award winning actor (Hurlyburly; Steaming); noted theatre director; Emmy nominee: What the Deaf Man Heard; film credits include Flags of our Fathers and The Devil’s Advocate.

Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths

Craft Award: Eugenio Caballero

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 7:00 PM | Culbreth Theatre

A nostalgic comedy set against an epic personal journey, chronicling the story of a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker who returns home and works through an existential crisis in the newest film from Alejandro Iñárritu (Birdman) Discussion with production designer Eugenio Caballero, moderated by Carlos Aguilar (LA Times, The Wrap, AV Club) Tickets: $14

Eugenio Caballero: Oscar®-Award Winning Production Designer; credits include Roma, Pan’s Labyrinth, Romeo and Juliet

Mama’s Boy

Changemaker Award: Dustin Lance Black Sunday, Nov. 6 | 11:00 AM | Culbreth Theatre

The true story of Oscar-Award Winning Screenwriter and Director Dustin Lance Black (Milk) and his mother, Anne—a conservative Mormon woman from the American South, who contracted polio as a child, forcing her to endure brutal surgeries and leaving her reliant on braces and crutches for the rest of her life. Discussion with Dustin Lance Black, moderated by Bilal Qureshi (NPR) Tickets: $12

Supported by UVA Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dustin Lance Black: Oscar-winning screenwriter (Milk), director, writer, producer, LGBTQIA+ activist. Other highlights include J. Edgar (screenplay); Under the Banner of Heaven (producer, director, writer).

The Inspection

Tribute to Raúl Castillo

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 2:30 PM | Culbreth Theatre

Elegance Bratton’s remarkable debut, inspired by the filmmaker’s own life story, follows a man (Jeremy Pope) who joins the Marine Corps after being thrown out of his mother’s home at 16 for being gay and living for years in housing precarity. Discussion with actor Raúl Castillo, moderated by Carlos Aguilar (LA Times, The Wrap, AV Club) Tickets: $12.00

Supported by Verizon

Raúl Castillo: Best-known for starring in We The Animals and HBO’s Looking; he also shines in supporting roles in Cha Cha Real Smooth, Hustle, Army of the Dead, and Wrath of Man

Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power

Chronicler Award: Sam Pollard

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 4:30 PM | Vinegar Hill Theatre

Charts efforts to organize disenfranchised Black voters in rural Alabama in 1965 in the wake of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Connects voter suppression from the ’60s to today’s political landscape. Discussion with director Sam Pollard, moderated by Robert Daniels (IndieWIRE) Tickets: $12

Presented by United Way of Greater Charlottesville Supported by UVA Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sam Pollard: Directorial highlights include Two Trains Runnin’, MLK/FBI, and Citizen Ashe. Prior to directing, Pollard edited and co-produced several Spike Lee films, including 4 Little Girls, Clockers, and Bamboozled

Dani’s Twins

Thursday, Nov. 3 | 5:00 PM Culbreth Theatre

Dani’s Twins  follows the pregnancy and early parenting life of Dani Izzie, a Virginia resident who became one of the first quadriplegics to give birth to twins in 2020. Her unique pregnancy not only put her at risk for an array of serious medical risks, it also forced her to grapple with intense biases faced by women with disabilities. Discussion with producer Angie Gentile, subjects Dani Izzie, Rudy Izzie, and Dr. Robert Fuller, moderated by Eric Swensen (UVA Health) Tickets: $14

Presented by UVA Health

Clarissa’s Battle

Friday, Nov. 4 | 5:00 PM

Violet Crown 5

Clarissa Doutherd is a single Black mother and activist living in Oakland, California who, after becoming unhoused with her infant son Xavier, embarks on a crusade to champion childcare and preschool as a human right. Her tireless energy, enthusiasm, humor, and natural leadership skills draw mothers of all backgrounds to the growing movement. Discussion with director Tamara Perkins, editor Sara Maamouri, and subject Clarissa Doutherd Tickets: $14

Presented by United Way of Greater Charlottesville

Good Night Oppy

Thursday, Nov. 3 | 8:00 PM

Culbreth Theatre

In 2003, NASA sent Opportunity, a robotic rover, to Mars for a planned 90-day mission. Fifteen years later, the ambitious robot, nicknamed “Oppy,” was still defying the odds with its perseverance, scientific value, and vitality. Narrated by Angela Bassett and featuring CGI technology by Amblin Entertainment, this is a lovely and moving journey that uncovers the true heart of scientific exploration. Tickets: $14

Supported by Charlottesville Dogwood Foundation and Crutchfield

The Son

Friday, Nov. 4 | 5:00 PM

Culbreth Theatre

Hugh Jackman stars alongside Academy Awardwinners Laura Dern and Anthony Hopkins as a man whose life is upended when his ex-wife shows up with their troubled teenage son Nicholas. With a new wife and infant son and on the verge of a career breakthrough, Peter is thrown into a minefield of emotional distress with the boy’s arrival. Directed by Academy Award-winner Florian Zeller, The Son is a devastating and sympathetic look at a broken family trying to heal. Introduction by Bilal Qureshi (NPR) Tickets: $14

Presented by Charlottesville Radio Group Supported by UVA Department of Drama

Hazing

Friday, Nov. 4 | 7:30 PM

Vinegar Hill Theatre

Byron Hurt explores the history and culture of hazing, a widespread, far-reaching practice that has long pervaded college campuses and that is increasingly, and tragically finding its way into our headlines. Hurt, a one-time fraternity member himself who has been on both sides of the hazing equation, explores the roots of the practice—from systemic racism, toxic masculinity, and groupthink culture within Greek life, to connections between the practice and race, gender, and class. Discussion with director Byron Hurt, moderated by Angie Miles (VPM) Tickets: $14

Presented by VPM

All That Breathes

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 4:15 PM

Violet Crown 6 & 7

As masses of birds fall from the smog-filled skies of New Delhi amid environmental distress and social unrest, Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammed Saud fight to save the black kite, a majestic bird of prey that is crucial to the city’s ecosystem. All That Breathes tells the story of the “kite brothers,” Nadeem and Mohammed, who have devoted their lives to their makeshift basement clinic for injured birds. Tickets: $12

Presented by Southern Environmental Law Center

Broker

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 4:30 PM

Violet Crown 5

Hirokazu Kore-eda presents a humanistic, humorous, and philosophical masterpiece in his follow-up to the Academy Award-winning  Shoplifters. When a young woman leaves her newborn at a church in Busan, Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho, Parasite) and Dong-soo are there to receive the baby. Their plans to illegally sell the baby to their network of wealthy, adoptive parents. are complicated when the mother returns the following day to take her son back. Tickets: $12

Presented by Violet Crown Cinema

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

Saturday, Nov. 5 | 8:00 PM

Vinegar Hill Theatre Academy Award-winning documentarian Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) chronicles the internationally acclaimed art, complex life, and tireless activism of Nan Goldin, one of the truly groundbreaking photographers of the late 20th century. This powerful and intimate film takes audiences behind the scenes of some of her most famous works and highlights her heroic efforts to protest the now infamous Sackler family, makers of the drug OxyContin, which has killed more than a half million Americans. Tickets: $14

Presented by UVA Arts: supported by the Office of the Provost & the Vice Provost for the Arts

Klondike

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 11:30 AM

Violet Crown 5

Official Oscar Selection—Ukraine

Klondike tells the story of a Ukrainian family living on the border of Russia and Ukraine during the start of the Donbas war in 2014. On July 17 of that year, the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shocks the world and causes further distress for Irka and Tolik, who are anticipating the arrival of their first child. Irka refuses to evacuate their family home and the lingering rubble of the flight and the seemingly endless procession of mourners emphasize the pain and distress of the moment. Introduction by Stephen Mull (UVA) Tickets: $12

Supported by Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs

The Levys of Monticello

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 12:00 PM

The Paramount Theater

In 1834, Monticello came under the unlikely ownership of Uriah Levy, a Jewish U.S. naval officer and deep admirer of Thomas Jefferson. The Levy family would go on to own Monticello for nearly a century and are credited with saving the property from dilapidation. This documentary uncovers the Levy Family legacy, while confronting issues of racism and anti-Semitism that still surround the national landmark. Introduction by Leslie Greene Bowman (Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello). Discussion with director Steven Pressman, and subjects Niya Bates, Marc Leepson, and Phyliss Leffler. Moderated by Susan Stein (Thomas Jefferson's Monticello) Tickets: $12

Supported by Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

Saint Omer

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 5:15 PM

Violet Crown 5

Grand Jury Prize Winner, 2022 Venice Film Festival

Acclaimed documentarian Alice Diop makes her feature debut in this story of Rama, a pregnant novelist who travels to Saint Omer, a small town in the south of France, to cover the trial of Laurence Coly, a young Senegalese woman accused of infanticide. When Rama decides to make the story the subject of her next novel, she is overwhelmed by memories about her immigrant mother, anxieties about her impending motherhood, and the painful effects of racism on Black women in French society. Introduction by Alison Levine (UVA) Tickets: $14

Supported by Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs

Headwaters Down

Sunday, Nov. 6 | 5:30 PM

Culbreth Theatre

Once considered the most polluted waterway in the United States, the James River is no stranger to the manmade damages inflicted to commoditize natural resources. This adventurefilled documentary captures a 250-mile journey down the James River to Richmond, Virginia. Throughout the 13-day journey, the crew captures the river’s troubled past while breathing new life into the body of water. Discussion with directors and subjects Will Gemma, Dietrich Teschner, and Justin Black, moderated by Paul Wagner (UVA) Tickets: $14

Presented by Southern Environmental Law Center and Supported by UVA Office for Sustainability

FREE PANEL DISCUSSIONS

PANEL SERIES

@ CODE

Saturday, Nov. 5

Irving Theatre, CODE Building

10:00 AM

From Page to Screen— Screenwriter’s Panel

12:00 PM

The Power of Media, Storytelling, and The Muppets of Sesame Street

2:00 PM

Making It—Film Industry Career Panel

HOW TO GET YOUR TICKETS

Online at virginiafilmfestival.org until two hours prior to each film.

By Phone at (434) 924-3376, open Tues-Fri from noon to 5:00 PM.

In Person at our two main box office locations: UVA Arts Box Office in the lobby of the UVA Drama Building, and Festival Headquarters, located inside Violet Crown on the Downtown Mall, Scan QR code for location addresses and hours.

Ticket Prices

Matinees prior to 5:00 PM: $12

Evening screenings: $14 adult / $12 discounted for seniors (60+), students with ID, children, UVA faculty and staff, and local educators.

Select Gala Screenings: $20

We accept all major credit cards and checks at our in-person box office locations. Cash payments are also accepted at the UVA Arts Box Office location.

Free tickets for full-time UVA students

All full-time UVA students can receive one complimen tary ticket to all films, as available, made possible by the Art$ program. UVA student tickets must be reserved in advance and are not available the day of a film.

Tickets during the Festival

UVA Arts Box Office and Festival Headquarters at Violet Crown: Open during business hours (scan QR code below for exact hours) as well as one hour before each screening.

The Paramount Theater & Vinegar Hill Theatre: Open one hour before each screening.

Online: Up to two hours prior to each film.

What if tickets are unavailable?

You’re in luck! Unclaimed tickets may become available at the door. Here are the details:

P Ten minutes prior to the start of a film, we sell any unclaimed tickets to a standby line. While there is no guarantee that we will have unclaimed tickets at the door, we typically do have a small number to release to a standby line.

P We have no control over when standby lines begin to form, and we do not permit the saving of places in standby lines.

Accessibility

All screening and event venues are accessible via ramp or elevators, offer wheelchair areas for viewing performances, and have accessible restrooms. Additionally, we strive to be accessible to all our patrons.

Select films offer closed captioning, open captions, and

More questions?

Scan the QR code to visit our Tickets webpage for complete information on our ticketing policies, exact hours of our box office locations, and more!

we also offer ASL interpretation at select in-person discussions. Also, all foreign-language films are presented with English subtitles, but not all films with subtitles are fully captioned

For more information and for instructions on how to view a complete list of films that offer

the accommodations listed above, visit virginiafilmfestival. org/accessibility. To request accommodations for a film, discussion, or event, please contact VAFF Staff at eb4va@ virginia.edu (434) 982-4543, at least seven (7) business days before the event.

Supported by The Jefferson Trust

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) and Oscarnominated screenwriter Meg LeFauve (Inside Out) in conversation with VAFF Board Member and screenwriter/ director/producer John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side).

Featuring Sesame Street Workshop President Sherrie Westin, moderated by Marshall Persinger (VAFF Board) Supported by VPM

Featuring Erin Bernhardt, Lyle Friedman, and Jamie Sisley, moderated by Scot Safon (VAFF Board)